Acidity is measured using a pH scale, with the number 7 being neutral. Therefore, a body with a pH value of less than 7 is acidic. On the other hand, a value greater than 7 is basic. The pH of 5.6 has been used as the baseline in identifying acid rain, although this value is controversial, therefore, acid ran is any rainfall that has an acidity level above what is expected in non-polluted rainfall. Any precipitation that has a pH value of less than 5.6 is considered to be acid precipitation.

Readings of pH 2.4--as acidic as vinegar--were recorded during storms in New England. During one particularly acid summer storm, rain falling on a lime-green automobile leached away

Another things impacted by acid rain are forests and soil. When acid rain falls onto the earth's surface it causes a lot of damage. The soil is robbed of some vital things. Aluminum that is always present in the soil is freed, and the toxic element is absorbed by the roots of trees. The trees in turn are starved and deprived of vital nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Sulfuric acid returns to earth. When the sulfuric acid returns, it clogs up the stomata in the leaves, stopping photosynthesis. In addition, severe frosts may also further aggravate this situation. With sulfur dioxide, ammonia and ozone present in the air, the frost-hardiness of trees are reduced. Ammonia mixes with sulfur dioxide and forms ammonium sulfate. This product forms on the surface of the trees. When ammonium sulfate reaches the soils, it reacts to form both sulfuric and nitric acid. Such conditions also stimulate the growth of fungi and pests like the ambrosia beetle. When trees are under such stress, they release chemicals such as terpenes which attract the ambrosia beetle.

Water moves through living plants, animal, streams, lakes, and oceans in the hydrologic cycle. In that cycle, water evaporates from the land and sea into the atmosphere. Water in the atmosphere then condenses to form clouds. Clouds release the water back to the earth as rain, snow, or fog. When water droplets form and fall to the earth, they pick up particles and chemicals that float in the air. Even clean, unpolluted air has some particles such as dust or pollen. Clean air also contains naturally occurring gases such as carbon dioxide. The interaction between the water droplets and the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere gives rain a pH of 5.6, making even clean rain slightly acidic. Other natural sources of acids and bases in the atmosphere may lower or raise the pH of unpolluted rain. However, when rain contains pollutants, especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the rain water can become very acidic.

Lakes, rivers, oceans, and other aquatic ecosystems are largely affected by acid rain. The reason why acid rain has such a large affect on aquatic ecosystems is because there as so many routes in which acidic chemicals can enter the water. Chemical substances enter the water in different ways. Some of the ways acidic chemicals enter waterways are as dry particles. These chemicals can also get into the water in forms such as rain, hail, dew, fog and snow. Another way that acids enter the lakes is called spring acid shock. An example of spring acid shock is when snow melts in the spring rapidly as a result of a sudden temperature change. The acids in the snow are then put into the soil. The melted snow in return runs off to smaller water sources, and gradually make their way into the larger water ecosystems. This causes a sudden drastic change in the pH level. The aquatic ecosystem doesn't have time to adjust to the drastic change. This is also very dangerous because in the springtime many aquatic species are reproducing. Some of these species lay their eggs in the water to hatch. The sudden pH change can cause serious deform

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Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)